Munster Technological University (MTU) recently announced that it has formally signed the Coalition for Advancing Research Assessment (CoARA) Agreement. The signing demonstrates MTU’s commitment to responsible and inclusive approaches to evaluating research. By joining CoARA, MTU is aligning with an international movement that champions assessment practices emphasising quality, openness, integrity, and societal impact.
As part of this commitment, MTU will develop and implement its CoARA Action Plan. The plan will outline concrete steps to transform assessment practices in research, recruitment, recognition, and career progression. Dr Seán Lacey will lead this work and will coordinate consultations, engage relevant stakeholders, and guide implementation of the CoARA principles.
Prof. Maggie Cusack, President of MTU, commented: “Signing the CoARA Agreement is an important step for MTU and will progress our strategic objectives of inclusion, integrity and a genuine commitment to research excellence. By joining the CoARA coalition now, we are demonstrating the leadership and institutional alignment needed to implement responsible and practical reforms in research assessment. This will ensure excellence, transparency, and accountability for our university community and wider society.”
Prof. Hugh McGlynn, Vice President Research & Innovation, highlighted the evolving nature of research assessment and the importance of coordinated leadership: “The research landscape continues to evolve. Assessment practices are moving toward more inclusive, responsible, and sustainable approaches. By joining CoARA, MTU positions itself within an international network committed to strengthening research quality, openness, integrity, and ethics. To support this work, I have appointed Dr Seán Lacey to lead the development and implementation of the University’s CoARA Action Plan. His dedicated leadership and engagement with relevant stakeholders will help us embed responsible and inclusive assessment practices across our policies and procedures. This will enable better support for interdisciplinary work, open science, and the diverse forms of scholarship and contributions that address today’s global challenges.”
Dr Pio Fenton, Vice President People & Culture, welcomed the University’s commitment to responsible and inclusive research assessment practices: “CoARA is an important step toward creating a more supportive and equitable environment for our researchers and the wider university community. Responsible research assessment aligns closely with our People & Culture priorities including recognising contributions, supporting career development, and fostering inclusive pathways for success. I look forward to working with Seán on this forward-looking agenda.”
Dr Seán Lacey, MTU Lead for CoARA Implementation, highlighted the upcoming work on institutional alignment: “Developing and implementing the CoARA Action Plan is an opportunity to bring our community together to shape the University’s future approach to research assessment. We will engage widely across faculties, researchers, and our professional, technical, and administrative teams to ensure the plan is both practical and meaningful. Our goal is to create fair and transparent processes that recognise the full breadth of researchers’ contributions, while supporting high-quality, responsible, and impactful research.”
Next Steps
In the coming months, MTU will initiate a structured consultation process to inform the development and implementation of its CoARA Action Plan. Staff, researchers, and external partners will have opportunities to contribute. The final plan will be submitted to CoARA and shared publicly by the end of 2026, after which MTU will progress a series of deliverables and report on them within agreed timelines.
About CoARA
The Coalition for Advancing Research Assessment (CoARA) is an international initiative dedicated to reforming research assessment. CoARA promotes systems that focus on quality and impact rather than quantitative metrics solely. It encourages diversity, openness, and integrity across the research ecosystem.
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